Apparatus for humidifying and cleansing air.



No 831,275. A PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

.I. W. FRIES. APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING AND CLEANSING AIR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.Z4. 1902.

p 'UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILLIAM FRIES, OF WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA.

APlARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYIING AND CLEANSING AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed April 24, 1902. Serial No- 104,481.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIAM FnIEspf Winston Salem, county of Forsyth, State of North Carolina, haveinvented an Improvement in Apparatus for Humidifying and Cleansing Air, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention has reference for humidifying and cleansing air 3 and it consists of certain improvements fully setout in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my be twofold,namely, to regulate the humidity of the air within any confined space, such as a large room or auditorium, and to collect and remove all dust and floating particles of dirt or deleterious matters from the air, thereby purifying and refreshing it.

In many instances it is important to add moisture to an otherwise dry atmosphere to increase the humidity, whether it be for facilitating manufacturing operations or for hygienic reasons and comfort. Thus, for instance, in textile mills when the atmos here is too dr (5., its hygrometric con ition too low in humidity-the cotton becomes under the ordinary manipulations electrified, witlh the result that the fiber ends stand out an ance. This condition interferes materially in the textile operations of producing cloth. By myinvention. the humidity may be 'increased to the proper degree to secure suc hygrometric conditionsas will overcome this abnormal tendency of the yarn to become electrified.

In many mills the atmosphere becomes so heavily laden with floating particles of dust that, aside from being dangerous on account of fire, it is most objectionable and injurious to the workmen and girls employed in oper-' ating' the machines. By my invention all of the objectionable floating particles may be extracted from the air and the latter brought to a fresh andhealthful condition.

In carrying out my invention I provide means to act upon air and a spray of water, whereby the air carries the water in suspension to a circulating device, which imparts to it a centrifugal and rotary action for the purpose of spreading the wa out upon'the interior surface of a cylindrical shell for causing the air to take a spiral path over the surface of said film of water for the purpose of beto apparatus invention may be said to give to it a more or less fuzzy appear coming humidified to the) proper degree. When this IS done, the air and water are caused to pass into a discharge-flue, which collects the surplus water and removes it and also separates the humidified air and directs it into the room. This same operation purifiesthe an, because the action of the moisture is such that it causes the floating particles'to separate from the'air and become absorbed by the water and by which they are conveyed away. It is thus seen that the humidlfied an is not only of the right condition for the proper working of the cotton, but it is washed or cleansed and brought to a condition most healthful and pleasant to the operatives. It is evident that these same conditions are most desirable in large halls and auditoriums or places where people may congregate, and hence my invention is adapted to such purpose. I

In my preferred form of apparatus for carrymg my invention into effect I employ a tube, into which air and. a spray of water are sucked, combined with a second tube or shell upon which the -Water collects in a film and over which the air is forced, a circulating-fan connecting the tube and shell for creating a forced circulation of the air and moisture' and imparting to them an outward and rotary motion within the shell, and means forv collecting and removing the water and for dehvering the air in humidified condition into the room exterior to the apparatus. I

have found it convenient and more compact to inclose the tube within the shell, so that the air and moisture drawn through the central tube is caused to fiow backward through the annular chamber within the outer -and inclosing shell and between it and the tube.

My invention also embodies details of construction, which, to ether with the above general features, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention. I Fig. 2 is 1 a cross-section of same on line 2 '2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an end elevation of same with the discharge-flue removed. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the discharge-flue on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of apparatus embodying my invention.

A is a hollow cast-iron head and is closed at the front and open at the rear, where it is rovided with a rearwardly-extending circuar flange B, This hollow cast head is made in shape very similar to a centrifu al blower- G.. This fan is so designed that it draws in entire apparatus may casing, its periphery being spira in shape tangentially considered and opening downwardly'through a discharge-opening at C, preferably rectangular in form and located to one side of the head. Fitted to the flange B is a cylindrical shell D, of sheet metal, the opposite end thereof being closed by a castmetal cap E, flanged, as at e, to receive the end of the said sheet-metal shell D. Arranged concentrically within the shell D is a tube F, secured at one end to an annular ring G which is bolted to the front of the head A, and terminating at the other end near the cap E, but at sufiicient distance therefrom to allow of the interposition of a circulating-fan the air from the tube .F and discharges it radially and tangentially under centrifugal action, as shown. The fan consists of a. closed backg and a series of radial blades J, extending forward from the back. These blades are connected at the front part by an annular rin -piece H, which is in alinement with the en of the tube F. The a ertures or passa es formed between the blades J near the hu of the fan are curved, as at I. This fan is rotated by a shaft K, journaled in a suitable frame L and driven by aband-wheel M, or, if desired, by any of the well-known means for driving fans now in commercial usesuch, for example, as the'direct application of an electric motor. The frame L is bolted to the cap E and is.adapted for attachment to the ceiling or other convenient place. The head A is also provided with a support L, likewise adapted for attachment to the'ceiling. By means of these frames L and L the be sus ended in suitable position; *The front en of the tube F opens through the head A at f and receives the air from the room. Arranged at this entrance f is a water-nozzle R, by which water may be sprayed or otherwise admitted into the tube F, and thereby be drawn into the apparatus by the incoming rush of. air passing to the fan G.

The air and water passing from the head A descends through the aperture C into the discharge-flue N, which is preferably an upright galvanized-iron tube having a waste-pipe P at the bottom for carrying off the water and an open side 0 for allowing the humidified air to escape into the room. To prevent the .water being thrown out into the room,,the edges of this open side of the discharge-flue N are curved, as at n, to form gutters to catch the surplus water and guide it downward to the waste-pipe P. ,I also prefer that the opening 0 shall be directed away from the suction-entrance ff when both are arranged I at the same end 0 he apparatus, as in Fig. 1, as it insures better circulation within the room.

The operation may-be described as follows:

The fan being in motion and air circulating, as indicated by the arrows, water is ad-- mitted by. the nozzle R in the requisite ua tity to provide the humidity desired an al 0 the water necessary to produce the washing operation and film over which the air is forced. This admixture of air and moisture is drawn through the tube F with considerable force and driven outwardjunder the centrifugal action of the 'fan G. This fan is so shaped that it forces the moisture-laden air to flow backward through the annular space between the tube F and shell D with great rotary and centrifugal action, creating, in effect, spiral currents. By this means the water, owing to its greater specific gravity, is caused to s read. over the interior surface of the shel D in a thin film, and under the rotary and forward movement of the air said water film is caused to gradually travel forward toward the head A. In this manner the air is caused to move' over a surface of water and press upon it with considerable force, and

thereby take up the proper degree of moisture in the shortest period of time to secure the desired humidity. The centrifugal action of the air in its rotary motion continues to assist in holding the water against the interior surface of the shell and to keep it from settling to the bottom thereof. It thus maintains the water-film in the most effective condition and causes it to gradually travel toward the discharge end. When the air and water enter the head A, the rotary action continues until they escape into the discharge-flue N, down the side walls of which the water flows to the waste-pipe P. The air is driven laterally through the aperture 0 into the room. The degree of humidity of the air 'so treated may be determined by the use of any well-known type of hygrometer arranged close to the apparatus. The admixture of the water and air in the first instance, coupled with the frictional treatment between'the two after leaving the fan, insures the thorough washing and cleansing of the air and clears it of all floating particles or deleterious matters. Any desired length may be given to the tube F and shell D found desirable for any special work, andwhile it is convenient to inclose the tube F within the shell D to shorten the apparatus as a whole this is not at all necessary, as will be understood by examining Fig. 5. In this figure the tube F and shell D are arranged end to end and the fan G is arranged at the juncture of the two parts. 'In this case the spraying-nozzle R and the discharge-flue N are arranged at the most distant ends of the apparatus.

It is evident that I may modify the general arrangement and details of the apparatusin many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for humidifying and cleansing air, the combination of a fixed horizontal cylinder having; its interior surface circumferentially'unobstructed, a discharge from one end of the cylinder to collect and cause the water to flow away by gravity, a rotatable centrifugal fan arranged at the other end of-the cylinder to create a centrifugal action on the air and induce it to move outward in a direction toward the interior surface of the cylinder and cause it to assume a helical motion thereon, means for admit ting air to the central portion of the fan, and a water-nozzle for projecting water to the central part of the fan, whereby thefan acts as the sole means for causing both the air and water to travel together through the cylinder in the same direction and assume a rotary motion having a centrifu al action upon the interior surface'of the said cylinder and by which the air spreads the water upon the interior surface of the cylinder and then travels over it. I

2. In an apparatus for humidifying and cleansing air, the combination of a fixed horizontal cylinder having its interior surface circumferentially unobstructed, a vertical discharge-flue extending downward from one end of the cylinder and having a vertical slot or opening in its side to permit the Water to flow away by gravity and the air to escape through the slot or opening, a rotatable centrifugal fan arranged at the other end of the cylinder to create a centrifugal action on the air and induce it to move outward in a direction toward the interior surface of the cylinder and assume a helical motion thereon, and means for admitting air and water to the central portion of the fan, whereby the fan acts as the sole means for causing both the air and Water to travel together through the cylinder in the one direction and assume a rotary helical motion having a centrifugal action upon the interior surface of the said cylinder in the opposite direction and by which the air spreads the water upon the interior surface of the cylinder and then travels over it.

3. In an apparatus for humidifying and cleansing air, the combination of two fixed horizontal tubular parts of diiferent diameters the larger having its interior surface circumferentially unobstructed, a centrifugal fan revolving on a horizontal axis arranged at the juncture of the tubular part and for sucking air and water through the smaller of the tubular arts and'forcing them throughthe other or arger part with a helical motion and centrifugal action, and means for spraying water into the smaller tubular part and into the central part of the fan, whereby the water with the air enters'immediately at the fan, and are both made to central part of the tubular part, and

one encircling air and having travel in the same direction through the apparatus and given a helical motion together overthe inner surface of the larger tubular part.

4. In an apparatus for humidifying and cleansing air, a tubular part closed at one end, and having an unobstructed internal surface, in lcombination'with a centrifugal fan arranged within and adjacent end of the tubular part for creating a suction for drawing the air through the central part of the tubular part in one direction and then forcing it outward and in a reverse. direction adjacent to the interior tubular surface of the a nozzle to admit a fluid to the air passing to the fan and by which it is conveyed positively to the fan and then forced outward and backward upon the interi or surface of the tubular part, whereby the fluid is caused to coat the interior surface of the tubular part in a thin film and the air is caused to assume a helical motion over the film of fluid to cause it to be thoroughly cleansed and humidified.

5. In an apparatus for humidifying and cleansing air, the combination of two pipes the other, means to admit water to the inner pipe, a discharge-flue from the end of the outer pipe, and a centrifugal fan arranged at the inner end of both pipes for sucking the air and water through the inner pipe and causing it to flow backward through the outer pipe with a rotary motion.

6. In an apparatus cleansing air, the combination of two pipes one encircling the other,-means to admit water to the inner pipe, a

discharge-flue from the end of the outer pipe Consisting of a vertical pipe structure open at one side for the air and having a drain for the water at the bottom, and a centrifugal fan arranged at one end of both pipes for sucking the air and water through the inner pipe and causing it to flow to the closed for humidifyin'g and backward through the outer pipe with a rotary motion.

Z. In an apparatus for humidifyingand cleansing air, the combination of two pipes one encircling the other, means to admit water to the inner pipe, a discharge-flue from the end of the outer pipe consisting of a vertical pipe structure open at one side for the a drain-for the water at the bottom and in which the edges bounding the opening are formed with inward gutters, and a centrifugal fan arranged at one end of both pipes for sucking. the air and water. through the inner pipe and causing it to flow backward through motion.

In testimony of which invention I have herefinto set my hand.

g JOHN Witnesses-:-

FRIES. 

